Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1876 — A Rothschild Wedding. [ARTICLE]

A Rothschild Wedding.

I finished my last letter while the marriage of Mlle. Bettina de Rothschild was going on in the Israelltlsh Temple, Rue de la Victoire, and went out in time ti ice the grand procession drive away, but only from a distance. It required a larger dose of curiosity than I possessed to make me push through the crowd that thronged the streets on all sides, blocking up the sidewalks as on the day of Dejaxet’a funeral. Although the ceremonies began in the afternoon, “the people”—the democracy that is so down on property and society—came as early as eight o’clock in order to get a good standing place near the Temple, and there they remained until the last gala carriage had left the street. As a general thing Royal Princesses atone are able to attract so general attention on the occasioh of their marriages, but Mlle. Bettina may be called a Princess, being the daughter of tlie king of finance. No people in the world show such striking contrasts as those of Paris. In the midst of their republican orgies a few years ago, when all were engaged in scratching off the Imperial eagles and in writing the word equality upon all the walls, they stopped to acclaim the “ king of kings,” the Shah-in-Bhah, the most despotic monarch of the East, and anything like a royal pageant captivates them at once. But there Is a reason for the popularity of the Rothschilds with the crowd. In the first place they give large sums to the poor and support a number of charities. Secondly, it is known that the Baron is a very hard-working man. His wealth imposes a great deal of labor upon him. He rises at seven o’clock in the morning and goes directly to his bureau, working there steadily throughout the day, having his mid-day lunch brought to him. When in need of air and exeicise he runs down to Ferrieresfora little shooting. Meanwhile Mme? de Rothschild is making the rounds of her hospitals, carrying relief and comfort to hundreds of those who suffer. These people have enormous fortunes, but they make good use of them, and live really noble lives. Envy is, therefore, out of the question. Few men would like to change his hours of labor with those of Baron Alphonse. And little Mlle. Bettina, now another Barronne de Rothschild, has made good use of her fortune and time also. From the time she was a little girl she has had her separate establishment in the Hotel Talleyrand, Rue Saint Florentin, her own agent, doctor, business man, governess, teachers, servants and stables, and had her own table, to which she invited her own relatives when she wished. She pursued her studies actively, and two years ago went before the Board of City Examiners and obtained a certificate entitling her to the position of teacher in the public schools, or to exercise the profession of governess. In case of loss of fortune, therefore a remark which sounds absurd in her case—she is capable of earning her own living. She carries a dot of twelve millions to her husband, not counting her jewels. Relatively speaking this is not much, but since it is all in the family, the sum of the dowry makes no difference. If the young Baron Albert were in want of four or five hundred millions, his father-in-law would furnish them with pleasure. On the morning of her marriage Mlle. Bettina w’anted to pay a parting visit to her own asylum, to see her proteges, and was greatly annoyed to be told that on this day she belonged to her family. The gala carriages and the blue and gold Rothschild livery made a very grand show. The harness was ordered for the occasion, and as some of the horses appeared too small for the harness, Baron Alphonse sent over to England for several pairs of magnificent animals. The service in the temple, attended by the Marshal and Mme. MacMahon, the Orleans Princes, and all the high aristocracy of the city, is represented as very impressive. It was conducted by Laddoc Khan, Grand Raboi of Paris, assisted by Mgr. Isadore, Grand Rabbi of France. Faure and Levi sang magnificently in Hebrew. The bride came in a carriage with her mother and father, entering upon the Baron’s arm, and went aw T ay in the carriage with her husband. That night the young couple started for Italy on their wedding tour. The appearance of the procession in the streets reminded me of the marriage of the Princess Gisella, at Vienna, but of the two, the marriage of Mlle. Bettina de Rothschild was the more distingue and elegant. I need scarcely say that the Baron and Baroness adore their daughter, and that neither can yet find consolation for her necessary loss. Mme. De Rothschild regrets more than all else the necessity of having the distance between her and her little Bettina that which separates Vienna and Paris.— Paris Cor. N. Y. Times.